First vs VF Ballet
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
26%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
First takes 6 of 7 categories.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
VF BalletChoose it for a rose and floral character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring.
First6/7
VF Ballet1/7
- Ratings & consensus
- First
- Community sentiment
- First
- Longevity
- First
- Sillage & projection
- First
- Value for money
- VF Ballet
- Versatility
- First
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- First
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
FirstVan Cleef & ArpelsVF BalletWe PinkWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
3.86/ 5 · 93 votes
Have 68%Had 9%Want 24%
Category winnerFirstRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate38%Love
41%Like
3%Ok
17%Dislike
1%Hate
3,483 votes
37%Love
32%Like
17%Ok
9%Dislike
5%Hate
93 votes
Category winnerFirstMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityFirst
SillageFirst
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerVF BalletBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfloral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
rose100%
floral83%
honey65%
sweet48%
musky30%
Scent match26%Clearly different · both floral
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop20-30 mins
AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose
Base6-8+ hrs
CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean
Top
Pink PepperBergamotMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart
RoseYlang YlangLily-of-the-ValleyViolet
Base
HoneyMuskPatchouliAmber
InformationalShared notesBergamot, Mandarin Orange, Raspberry and Lily-of-the-Valley. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter99
Day100
Night85
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter46
Day–
Night–
Category winnerFirstMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#955
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews205
Overall rank#37,198
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews0
Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotFirst by Van Cleef & Arpels opens with a brisk, effervescent burst of aldehydes, tart bergamot, and ripe black currant that immediately calls to mind crisp, high-end French milled soap. As the initial sparkle settles, the scent unfolds into an abundant floral heart packed with spring narcissus, dewy green hyacinth, an…
Reviews →VF Ballet opens with a sharp burst of pink pepper and mandarin orange, which cuts through the immediate sweetness of raspberry. Within fifteen minutes, the citrus fades to reveal a dense bouquet of ylang ylang and rose. The base relies on a thick, warm honey note that anchors the floral elements to the skin. It suits …
Reviews →InformationalRead bothTaste is personal
How we score: ratings blend public fragrance ratings with Fragranxe member votes; longevity, sillage, value and sentiment are community vote scores, and season bars are relative to each fragrance's strongest season. Categories with too little data are shown but not scored. The scent match weighs accord overlap (60%) and shared notes (40%). More in the FAQ.
Guided comparison
Ask about this matchup
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, First or VF Ballet?
First takes 6 of 7 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; VF Ballet is rated 3.86/5 from 93 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose VF Ballet for a rose and floral character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring.
Which lasts longer, First or VF Ballet?
First lasts longest (First 72/100, VF Ballet 49/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, First or VF Ballet?
First projects furthest (First 64/100, VF Ballet 42/100), based on community performance votes.
Do First and VF Ballet smell similar?
Clearly different: a 26% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Mandarin Orange, Raspberry and Lily-of-the-Valley.
Is First or VF Ballet better for summer or winter?
For summer, First is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in First and VF Ballet?
First has top notes of Aldehydes, Bergamot, Black Currant and Peach, heart notes of Narcissus, Hiacynth, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley, a base of Civet, Oakmoss, Honey and Amber. VF Ballet has top notes of Pink Pepper, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Raspberry, heart notes of Rose, Ylang Ylang, Lily-of-the-Valley and Violet, a base of Honey, Musk, Patchouli and Amber.
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